Alliant Starts Group for Asian Corporate Customers

Newport Beach-based Alliant Insurance Services Inc. has started a strategic division to target U.S. operations of Asian corporate customers.

The company has hired three executives in its New York office to lead the Asia Strategic Resources group.

Senior Vice Presidents Ryad Dahbi and Bill O’Reilly, as well as Vice President Kaori Matsumoto, have joined Alliant after serving at Willis Group Holdings as part of a practice group focused on Japan-based corporate clients.

The additions are expected to bring to Alliant “immediate credibility with the Asian corporate marketplace in a wide range of industries,” according to Walter Harris, Alliant’s vice chairman and senior managing director.

Alliant is the largest insurance broker based in Orange County, with about $54.5 million in revenue generated in its local offices last year. Companywide revenue last year totaled $462 million. The company has about 200 employees here, and 1,500 companywide.

New York-based private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. recently acquired a majority stake in Alliant from Blackstone Group LP in New York on undisclosed terms.

(See related story in the Dec. 17 print edition of the Orange County Business Journal)